Aerodynamic Garment With Applied Edge Treatments

ABSTRACT

An aerodynamic garment may comprise zones with applied textures. Each zone may be associated with properties and characteristics based on the movement of the garment associated with each zone through air during an athletic activity. The texture in each zone may be applied using a variety of methods such as printing. Terminal edges of the garment may be treated with silicone or other elastomers to prevent fraying, eliminate stitching, and provide a snug, aerodynamic fit. The resulting aerodynamic garment improves the performance of an athlete wearing the aerodynamic garment by reducing the aerodynamic drag experienced during the performance of the athletic activity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part to U.S. application Ser. No.13/380,289, filed Dec. 22, 2011, entitled “Aerodynamic Garment WithApplied Surface Roughness And Method Of Manufacture”. This Applicationalso claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/220,184, filed Jun. 24, 2009, entitled “Aerodynamic Garment withApplied Surface Roughness and Method of Manufacture.”

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an aerodynamic garment for improvingathletic performance, and its method of manufacture. More particularly,the aerodynamic garment has surface roughness applied to the garment atkey locations so as to more effectively optimize the air flow around anathlete wearing it, and thereby reduce the drag on the athlete. Theaerodynamic garment further has elastomer treatments at terminal edgesto maintain a snug, aerodynamically favorable fit during competition.

BACKGROUND

Aerodynamic garments, such as tight fitting shirts, pants, and full bodysuits, are gaining in popularity as a means to improve athleticperformance. In general, these garments improve athletic performance byreducing the aerodynamic drag acting on the athlete wearing it. Drag isproduced when a fluid, such as air, flows around an object, formingeddies. Previous attempts to address the issue of drag have focused onthe selection of materials used to form an athletic garment so as tominimize the drag on an athlete wearing the garment while engaging in anathletic activity. These garments have generally worked to reduce dragin two ways. First, garments have been designed to be tight-fitting andto present a smooth, unwrinkled fabric surface toward the wind-facingportions of the athlete's body. Second, garments have been made of aparticular fabric(s) that offers a particular surface texture known foroptimally engaging the wind at the usual speeds in which the athletewill be moving while wearing the garment. In both of these methods, thedrag on a garment is based on the selection of the fabric utilized tocreate the garment.

Efforts by engineers and designers to quantify and select the optimalsurface texture of an aerodynamic garment for a particular sportingevent have had limited success. For example, in his published Ph.D.thesis titled “Aerodynamic Characteristics of Sports Apparel” (Author:Leonard W. Brownlie, Simon Fraser University, Apr. 14, 1993, School ofKinesiology, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference), Ph.D. candidate Leonard W. Brownlie documents tests that heperformed to determine the drag reducing effects of various stretchfabrics, each with a different surface texture, when draped over acylinder in a wind tunnel.

Mr. Brownlie concludes that “the surface roughness property of somestretch fabrics allows utilization of these fabrics to reduce [dragforces] on the human form in a variety of athletic endeavors.”(Abstract, page iii). However, his tests were limited to fabrics fromcommercial, off-the-shelf athletic garments without giving much guidancefor determining how to select the optimal surface textures for aparticular athletic event.

More recently, inventors have attempted to quantify a system forselecting fabrics having surface roughness for providing optimalaerodynamic drag reduction during a particular sporting event. Forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,755 to MacDonald et al., the disclosureof which is hereby incorporated by reference, the inventors teachdetermining and optimizing the Reynolds number of sections of anathletes body based on the size of that section and the speed of the airtraveling over that section during the desired athletic activity. Basedon the calculated Reynolds number for each section, different fabricshaving different surface roughnesses are then selected for each bodysection. The result is an athletic garment produced with differentfabrics joined together, which each different fabric positioned at itsoptimal location on the suit so as to optimize overall athleticperformance of an athlete wearing it.

While MacDonald et al. offers a significant advancement in aerodynamicgarment designs, it also requires a plurality of different fabrics to besecured together, which increases production costs and, depending of thefabrics selected, may decrease wearer comfort and the like. Further,methods of generating aerodynamic garments under MacDonald et al. arebased on the selection of fabrics based primarily on theircharacteristic drag coefficients, independent of whether the chosenfabric(s) possessed other desirable characteristics, such as stretchingproperties, flexibility, breathability, etc. Accordingly, while garmentsproduced under MacDonald et al. may be aerodynamically favorable, theresulting garments likely will not be optimized for comfort,thermodynamics, perspiration management, weight, and other comfortand/or performance characteristics across the garment.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, despite the improvements of known athletic garments, thereremains a need for cost-effective athletic garments that moreeffectively allow the aerodynamic drag-reducing effects of selectivesurface roughnesses to be optimized while taking into account theadditional properties of the fabrics worn by athletes. There is alsoprovided a related efficient and economical method of making thisgarment. By choosing a base fabric that is optimized for comfort and/ornon-aerodynamic performance factors, textured surfaces may beselectively applied to the basic fabric to gain desired aerodynamicproperties to optimize the overall effectiveness of the aerodynamicgarment in aiding an athlete's top performance while wearing theaerodynamic garment. As disclosed more fully in the specification ofthis application, the present invention fulfills these and other needs.

An athletic garment in accordance with the present invention may becomposed of one type of fabric, or even a single piece of fabric, andsections having different surface roughness may be formed by applyingtextures applied to areas on the garment. As a result, the fabric of asporting garment may be selected for functional, or even esthetic,reasons other than surface roughness. For example, a fabric withadvantageous moisture management characteristics but disadvantageousaerodynamic properties may be used for a garment, with a texture appliedto the fabric to produce advantageous aerodynamic property orproperties. Accordingly, a garment in accordance with the presentinvention may possess advantageous aerodynamic properties while alsopossessing other desirable functional and/or esthetic properties nototherwise attainable.

The surface roughness and/or surface roughnesses may be applied with oneor more conventional transfer techniques such as inkjet or otherprinting, silk screening, heat transfer, over-molding and/or the like.The surface roughness may be selected to provide the most appropriatetexture at each body location for the air velocity likely to beexperienced at that body location for the given athletic event. If agarment in accordance with the present invention is constructed ofmultiple pieces of fabric, either of the same or different types, theapplication of surface roughness to fabrics at the seams joining thefabric pieces allows for the minimization of air resistance at theseams. For example, a texture may be placed on top of seams and/or areassurrounding seams to reduce, the impact of seams on an air profile.Further, elastomers such as silicone or other material may be used totreat terminal edges of a garment to form hems and/or treat edges offabric, such as may be encountered at hems near wrists, ankles,shoulders, upper arms, mid-arms, waists, thighs, mid-thighs, knees,necks, and/or other portions of the body of those wearing the garment,as appropriate for the particular type of garment created in accordancewith the present invention. For example, shirts in accordance with thepresent invention may be long sleeved, three quarter sleeved, shortsleeved, and/or sleeveless; pants in accordance with the presentinvention may be full length, capris length, and/or knee length; shortsin accordance with the present invention may be knee length, lower thighlength, mid-thigh length, and/or upper thigh length; waists of garmentsin accordance with the present invention (whether on pants/shorts orshirts) may be low waisted, high waisted, mid-waisted, and/or naturallywaisted; shirts in accordance with the present invention may have anysort of neckline and any height of neckline. Not all terminal edges of agarment in accordance with the present invention need be treated withsilicone or a similar material, but all terminal edges may be treated.

The use of silicone or other material at a terminal edge such as a hemmay add elasticity while reducing the weight and/or bulk of other typesof hem, while also preventing fraying of the fabric. Yet a furtheroption of using silicone or other material for a hem of a garment inaccordance with the present invention is that flocking may be applied toall or part of the hem to reduce aerodynamic drag at the hem. Siliconeor other materials utilized in treating terminal edges in accordancewith the present invention may be applied to the external surface of agarment, thereby allowing the aerodynamic properties of the garment atthat edge to be manipulated by the type of treatment applied.

A garment in accordance with the present invention may comprise aunitary body suit. A unitary body suit may be constructed from a singletype of fabric or multiple types of fabric. Any seams used to constructsuch a unitary body suit may be positioned to minimize drag during oneor more athletic activity. A unitary body suit in accordance with thepresent invention may be donned through an opening positioned anywherein the garment. An opening through which a unitary body suit is donnedmay optionally be closed using any type of fastener, such as zipper(s),a hook and loop system, buttons, snaps, etc. If a closure mechanism isused, a surface roughness may be applied to the garment as describedherein to minimize the aerodynamic drag of the closure mechanism. Oneexample of a unitary body suit in accordance with the present inventionmay provide an opening for the neck and optionally a portion of the backof an athlete while being constructed of a fabric with sufficientelasticity to permit the athlete to don the garment through thatopening. In such an example, the aerodynamic drag associated with theopening may be reduced for forward facing movement by eliminating theneed for a closure mechanism. The closure mechanism may be avoided byusing the elasticity of the fabric to maintain an acceptable fit, andventilation may be provided to the athlete for cooling and comfortduring exertion.

The application of a texture on a garment influences the drag propertiesof the garment when it is worn by an athlete during an athleticactivity. As stated above, drag is produced when a fluid, such as air,flows around an object. The air flowing around the object separates at alocation on the object, forming eddies. The location on an object atwhich the air flow breaks into eddies depends upon the shape of theobject and the speed at which the air moves relative to the object. Forinstance, air flowing around a slow-moving cylinder may producerelatively small eddies. However, air flowing around a fast-movingcylinder of the same size as the slow-moving cylinder may producerelatively large eddies.

One way to lessen the drag of an object, such as a fast-moving cylinder,is to promote tripping of the air flowing around the object. Tripping ofan air flow involves changing the texture on the outside of an object toinduce laminar flow. For instance, air flowing around a smooth cylindermay be tripped by adding a texture to the surface of the cylinder. Thetexture may hold the air near the surface of the cylinder, allowing airto flow around a larger area(s) of a cylinder than if the cylinderlacked the added texture. By increasing the amount of time the air flowsin a laminar flow around a cylinder, the intensity of eddies may besmaller when the air flow around the cylinder breaks. In this way, theapplication of textures to the surface area of an object may influencethe amount of drag produced by air flowing around the object. The objectmay be an aerodynamic garment being worn by an athlete. As differentparts of an athlete's body move at different speeds during an activity,different textures may need to be applied across the aerodynamic garmentto account for such variances. As such, by selectively applying texturesto areas of an aerodynamic garment, the drag on the garment may becontrolled. Additionally, the application of different textures may beused to control the drag on items other than athletic clothing. Forexample, other types of worn athletic equipment, such as helmets, shoes,padding and protective gear, and other equipment beyond traditionalgarments may benefit in accordance with the present invention byapplying surface roughness and/or edge treatments to create favorableaerodynamic properties. By way of further example, drag resulting fromair flow around a ball, sports equipment, a vehicle, a structure, etc.may be reduced through the use of applied textures.

A garment in accordance with the present invention may use silicone orother elastomers to treat cut edges of the fabric of the garment toprevent fraying, eliminate aerodynamically unfavorable stitching and toprovide elasticity for a snug and aerodynamic fit. Cut edges treated inaccordance with the present invention may comprise terminal edges of agarment, but may also comprise other edges, such as the edges of holesor opening formed for ventilation and/or cooling within a panel of agarment. Cut edges treated in this fashion may comprise edgescorresponding to the wrist(s), ankle(s), neck, thumb(s) and/or waist ofan athlete when the garment is worn. The width and/or thickness of thesilicone or other elastomer applied may vary along the cut edge. Ifdesired, all or part of the silicone or other elastomer may be flockedwith fibers.

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an example athletic garment inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 2-6 illustrate a plurality of example texture patterns that may beused on selected regions of an athletic garment in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a plurality of positions an athlete maytake relative to ambient air during an athletic activity in accordancewith the present invention;

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate a further example of the ranges of positions anathlete may take relative to ambient air during an athletic activity inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a textured portion of a garment inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a flocked portion of a garment inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate an example of a unitary body suit inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates an open back portion that may be used in conjunctionwith a garment in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 13A-13D illustrate views of a further garment in accordance withthe present invention;

FIGS. 14A-14C illustrate further examples of textures and/or fabricsthat may be used with a garment in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 illustrates a method for forming a garment in accordance withthe present invention; and

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a wrist edge treated by printing inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 17 illustrates a further example of a wrist edge treated byprinting in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates a further example of a wrist edge treated byprinting in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 19 illustrates a further example of a wrist edge treated byprinting in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 20 illustrates a further example of a wrist edge treated byprinting in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 21 illustrates a further example of a wrist edge treated byprinting in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 22 illustrates a further example of a wrist edge treated byprinting in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 23 illustrates a further example of a wrist edge treated byprinting in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 24 illustrates a further example of a wrist edge treated byprinting in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 25 illustrates a further example of a wrist edge treated byprinting in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 26 illustrates a further example of a wrist edge treated byprinting in accordance with the present invention.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment 100 of an athletic garment110 with sections of surface roughness 112 applied thereto is shown.Athletic garment 110 is a suit having a torso portion 120, leg portions122 and arm portions 124. Each portion may be sized and shaped to snuglycover their respective portions of an athlete 130 as shown. Each of theportions 120, 122, 124 may be formed of with a fabric offering optimalstretching, comfort, and/or performance effects for the region of thebody over which it covers. Sections of surface roughness 112 may beapplied to the underlying fabric of the suit to further optimizeaerodynamic properties of the suit, such as the drag reducing propertiesof the suit. As such, the respective portions 120, 122, 124 of thegarment 110 may be formed from a sheet of material that is notnecessarily selected for its optimal aerodynamic properties. Rather,those properties may be optimized by the application of the surfaceroughness 112 at optimal locations along the garment 110. For example,texture may be applied to a garment in order to trip air flow so as toreduce drag on the garment. The application of surface roughness 112 maybe applied to an athletic garment, such as garment 110, to optimizeaerodynamic properties of the garment, independent of the aerodynamicproperties of the garment. As such, surface roughness 112 may alsoand/or alternatively be applied to a garment with near-optimalaerodynamic properties as well as a garment with poor aerodynamicproperties.

Referring to FIGS. 2-6, a plurality of exemplary texture patterns200-600 for use on selected regions of an athletic garment areillustrated in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Byapplying the patterns to the fabric, rather than relying purely on thesurface roughness of a particular fabric used in the underlying suit,the size, density, arrangement, flocking, and/or shape of the surfaceroughness may be optimized. For example, the aerodynamic benefits ofincreased surface roughness may increase at higher air speeds.Accordingly, the surface roughness (i.e. textured pattern's size,density, arrangement, flocking and/or shape) may be greatest towards thedistal ends 140 of the leg portion 122 and arm portions 124, which movethe fastest during many athletic events. Further, each area of anaerodynamic garment that is exposed to an air profile may be enhancedwith a texture that is applied to the garment. In these instances, thetexture applied to each area of an aerodynamic garment may be optimizedto perform in conditions that are most likely to occur in theperformance of an athletic event. For instance, an aerodynamic garmentdesigned for a sprinter may be enhanced to optimize performance of shortevents such as a 100-meter dash, 400-meter race, etc. Alternatively, anaerodynamic garment may be designed for a marathon runner that isenhanced with textures that are optimal for running conditions ofapproximately five minutes per mile. Further, garments may be designedwith applied textures to optimize the performance of running hobbyistswho have running times of ten minutes per mile, eight minutes per mile,etc. The placement and textures used to design a garment to be used inrunning a 100-meter dash may be quite different than those used todesign a marathon runner's garment.

Moreover, surface roughness patterns may smoothly transition betweenportions of the garment. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the torsoportion 120 may have little or no added surface roughness, and thesurface roughness on the arm and leg portions 124, 122, respectively, ofthe garment smoothly transition from little or none adjacent to thetorso to gradually increasing surface roughness towards the respectivedistal ends of the arm and leg portions.

The surface roughness 112 may be applied toward the windward facingleading edges of the aerodynamic garment associated with the wearer'sbody, which are also often called the “wet edges.” An athletic activityperformed by an athlete wearing the garment may have wet edges that arebased on a plurality of positions of the athlete during the athleticactivity. Pluralities of positions of the athlete during the athleticactivity are further discussed in FIG. 7. The applied surface roughness112 may extend entirely around all fast-moving portions of the athletewhose wet edges tend to move during the athletic activity such as aroundthe forearm and calves of a runner. Further, the applied surfaceroughness 112 may be attached to any portion of the athletic garmentthat is impacted by an air profile associated with an athletic activity.

Zones of an athletic garment may be defined based on body positions ofan athlete engaged in an athletic activity. Additionally and/oralternatively, zones on an athletic garment may be based on size,proportion, and/or body composition of an athlete wearing the athleticgarment during an athletic activity. Further, the type and pattern of atexture applied to each zone of an athletic garment may be based ondifferent, shapes, sizes, and/or body compositions of an athlete.

An athletic garment worn by a wearer during an athletic activity mayhave a first zone and a second zone. The first zone may have a firstapplied texture having a first property that gives rise to a firstaerodynamic characteristic. Further, the first zone may cover aportion(s) of an extremity of the wearer. The second zone may have asecond applied texture having a second property that gives rise to asecond aerodynamic characteristic. The second zone may substantiallycover the torso of the wearer. Further, an intermediate zone may extendbetween the first zone and the second zone. The intermediate zone mayhave a texture that gradually varies from the first applied texture tothe second applied texture.

Texture may be applied to a garment by identifying a zone of a garmentbased on the air flow resulting from the body position and movementrelative to ambient air of an athlete wearing the garment during anathletic activity. An indentified zone may correspond to at least oneextremity of the wearer. A texture having a property to decrease draggenerated from air flow around the at least one extremity may bedetermined. One example of an applied texture is smooth, thin siliconediscs that are applied to a portion of a garment. Silicone discs orother shapes may be applied by printing silicone on a garment and/orfabric for forming into a garment. Any printing process may be used toapply silicone to the surface of a garment. Another example of anapplied texture is flocked nodules. Flocked nodules may be formed byapplying liquid adhesive to a garment, such as liquid silicone asdiscussed above, and then applying fibers to the liquid adhesive. Theliquid adhesive may be applied across at least a portion of the garment.After the adhesive has dried or sufficiently bonded to the fibers,excess fibers that did not contact the adhesive may be removed byshaking, blowing, etc. The fibers of the nodule may be oriented in anynumber of ways, including uniform orientation and randomizedorientation. For example, nylon fibers may be aligned electrostaticallyto produce a uniform orientation of the fibers in a flocked nodule. Bothflocked and unflocked nodules may be shaped in various ways, such ascircles, squares, ovals, diamonds, various polygons, etc. Various shapesmay be used on the same garment and/or portion of a garment. Further,both flocked and unflocked nodules may be used on the same garmentand/or portion of a garment.

FIG. 7 illustrates ranges 700 of positions of an athlete engaging in anathletic activity while wearing a garment in accordance with the presentinvention. In particular, FIG. 7 illustrates ranges 700 of the movementof an athlete's left arm and left leg during running. A garment inaccordance with the present invention may utilize textures to reduceaerodynamic drag in all or some of the positions an athlete will engagein during an athletic activity. The movement of the arm and leg of anathlete running generally ranges from a position in front of athlete 705to a position behind athlete 705. As illustrated, elbow range 710 thatis covered during the run is significantly shorter than forearm range720 during the performance of the same activity. As such, the forearm ofathlete 705 may accelerate and decelerate at a greater intensity thanthe elbow of athlete 705. Similarly, thigh range 730 that is coveredduring the run is significantly shorter than knee range 740 and lowerleg range 750. As such, the thigh of athlete 705 may experience a lessermagnitude of acceleration and/or deceleration than the knee of athlete705 and the lower leg of athlete 705. Accordingly, the difference inmagnitude between the acceleration and/or deceleration of the thighaffects the shape of an air profile of an athlete.

Further, in addition to the varied magnitudes of acceleration and/ordeceleration at different point on the body of athlete 705, ranges 700illustrate the differences in orientation of athlete 705 during running.For instance, across knee range 740, the knee of athlete 705 is flexingfrom approximately 90 degrees to approximately 180 degrees (not drawn toscale). This flex of the knee of athlete 705 affects the length andorientation of muscles in the thigh and lower leg of athlete 705, whichin turn influences air flow around these areas. As such, air profiles ofair flowing around body portions of athlete 705 is not only affected bythe difference in speed, acceleration, and/or deceleration of bodyportions, but is also affected by the different orientation of bodyportions of athlete 705 during the performance of an activity(ies).

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate a plurality of positions 800 of an athleteassociated with an athletic activity in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention. In particular, FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate a pluralityof positions of an athlete 800 pole-vaulting. As seen in FIGS. 8A, airthat is moving towards an athlete performing an activity will impactdifferent areas of the athletic garment worn by the athlete indifferentways based on the body position and movement of the athlete throughoutthe performance of the activity. Direction of air flow is indicated byair profile indicators 840. In particular, body positions 810, 820, and830 are impacted by distinct air profiles against different portions ofthe aerodynamic garment. Although the body position profiles associatedwith the athletic activity of pole vaulting are provided in FIGS. 8A-8D,the use of air profiles associated with a plurality of body positionsassociated with any athletic activity as the basis of the designation ofzones is covered by embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate an athlete 800 in various positions associatedwith an athletic activity while wearing a garment in accordance with thepresent invention. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8D, athlete800 is pole vaulting, although other athletic activities may benefitfrom garments in accordance with the present invention. As the athlete800 is running, air flow 840 impacts areas of the athlete's garment atdifferent angles. The direction of air flow is illustrated by airprofile indicators 840. In particular, zones 810, 820, and 830 are eachimpacted in different ways by air profile indicators 840 as the positionof athlete 800 relative to the airflow 840 changes. The texture used ondifferent portions of the garment worn by athlete 800, such as zones810, 820, and 830, may vary to minimize aerodynamic drag at differentpositions. For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, zone 810, located on thetorso of the athlete does not move in as great of a swing during therun. As zone 820, located on the top of the athlete's thigh. Similarly,zone 830 is located on the lower leg of the athlete 800 and experiencesyet greater swing. As such, zone 830 is the most distal of the zonesdiscussed, and will accelerate and/or decelerate with greater magnitudethan the top of the athlete's thigh when the athlete 800 is running.

FIG. 8C illustrates a second position of an athlete 800 engaged in anathletic activity while wearing a garment in accordance with the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 8C, athlete 800 begins to leap towards apole vaulting bar. As the athlete 800 is leaping, air flow impacts areasof the athlete's garment at different angles. The direction of air flowis illustrated by air profile indicators 840. In particular, zones 810,820, and 830 are each impacted in different ways by air profileindicators 840.

FIG. 8D illustrates a third position of an athlete 800 engaging in anathletic activity while wearing a garment in accordance with the presentinvention. The athlete 800 of FIG. 8D is ascending towards the polevaulting bar in order to gain height to clear the bar. As the athlete800 approaches the bar, air flow impacts areas of the athlete's garmentat yet different angles. The direction of air flow is illustrated by airprofile indicators 840. In particular, zones 810, 820, and 830 are eachimpacted in different ways by air profile indicators 840.

One or more of zones 810, 820, and 830 may be textured so as to minimizeaerodynamic drag during one or more stage of athletic competition, suchas one of the exemplary positions illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8D.Alternatively, one or more of zones 810, 820, and 830 may be textured toreduce aerodynamic drag in multiple stages of athletic competition.Also, one or more zones may be optimized for one or more stage of anathletic competition, while another zone or zones may be optimized for adifferent stage of an athletic competition. Of course, pole vaulting isonly one example of an athletic competition; athletes engaging in anytype of athletic competition may benefit from garments in accordancewith the present invention. Further, garments in accordance with thepresent invention may use zones different from and/or in addition tozones 810, 820, and 830 illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8D.

The selection of an appropriate texture to apply to an area of theathletic garment may be based on properties, such as a Reynolds number,associated with the area of the athletic garment associated with acharacteristic of an air profile. As such, each area influenced by aparticular air profile may be associated with a unique applied textureto optimize drag associated with the athletic garment. Aerodynamicanalysis methods, such as wind tunnel analysis, may be used to measure aReynolds number or other desired aerodynamic properly of a texture underthe aerodynamic conditions likely to be experienced during an athleticactivity.

FIG. 9 illustrates a textured portion 900 of a garment in accordancewith the present invention. For example, textured portion 900 may bepart of a zone with an applied texture. The applied texture of portion900 may possess a tripping property that gives rise to an aerodynamiccharacteristic of reducing drag on a garment. The boundaries of the zonemay be defined based on exposure of the zone to an air profile of anathletic activity as described in figures above. The applied texture ofFIG. 9 comprises of doughnut shaped nodules 910 and diamond shapednodules 920 applied to a garment. As discussed above, nodules may beformed in any number of shapes, such as circles, hexagons, triangles,squares, etc. Nodules, such as nodules 910 and 920, may be formed byprinting a material, such as silicone, onto a garment or fabric to beformed into a garment.

If flocking is desired, the nodules may be formed by a liquid adhesiveand/or a liquid appliqué with fibers applied to the liquid. The fibersof fabric may be uniformly oriented, but may also have otherorientations. For example, nylon fibers may be electrostatically alignedinto a uniform direction. Alternatively, fibers may have a randomalignment. Fibers other than nylon may also be used, and more than onetype of fiber may be used at the same time. The length of fibers usedmay be uniform or varied, and may be equal to the length and/or width ofthe nodules used, longer than the length and/or width of the nodulesused, or shorter than the length and/or width of the nodules used.Fibers of varying lengths may be used at the same time.

The applied texture may have a tripping property that gives rise to anaerodynamic characteristic of reducing drag on a garment by promptingeddy formation based on tripping air flow around an extremity of awearer of the garment. Further, a texture such as that illustrated intextured portion 900 may be applied to seams to allow for theminimization of drag at the seams. For example, a texture such as thatillustrated in textured portion 900 may be placed on top of seams and/orareas surrounding seams. Additionally, textured portion 900 may beapplied to items other than athletic clothing to control the drag onthose items. For instance, drag resulting from air flow around sportingequipment and other structures may be reduced through the use of appliedtextures.

FIG. 9 also illustrates a range of density between area 930 and area940, such that fewer nodules are in area 930 than in area 940. Further,FIG. 9 illustrates a range of mix ratios between doughnut shaped nodulesand diamond shaped nodules. By altering the density of nodules, shape(s)of nodules, size of nodules, flocking of nodules, and/or mix ratio of anapplied texture, the drag across the garment may be modified, asdiscussed above. For example, the arrangement of the plurality ofnodules may be based on an air profile typically encountered during anathletic endeavor. For example, the plurality of nodules may be arrangedover a garment in a density range that is proportional to an air profileexperienced during sprinting, which may result in greater texture beingapplied at an athlete's extremities and lesser texture being applied atan athlete's torso.

FIG. 10 illustrates an enlarged flocked portion 1000 of a garment inaccordance with the present invention. Flocked portion 1000 has anapplied texture that consists of flocked nodules, particularly adoughnut-shaped flocked nodule 1010 and a diamond-shaped flocked nodule1020. As seen in FIG. 10, nodules 1010 and 1020 are made of fibers 1005that are arranged in a uniform fashion over an underlying adhesivematerial, such as silicone. In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, thefibers are oriented so as to extend more or less perpendicular to thesurface of the garment. All other fiber orientations, such as parallelto the surface of the garment, an angular orientation with the surfaceof the garment, a mix of fiber orientations, or a random fiberorientation, are within the scope of the present invention.

The surface roughness may be applied to the desired portions of thegarment using conventional processes and materials such as silkscreening, printing, heat sealing, over-molding, or the like. Examplesof processes for applying a transfer object to a fabric substrate aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,544,581 and 5,939,004, the disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference. These processes have beenused to transfer a two-dimensional graphical image onto fabric. Thetransfer in the present invention has a desired three-dimensional shape(thickness), pattern, and density so as to form a desired aerodynamicarray pattern, similar to riblets on an airplane wing, on the outersurface of the garment.

Referring now to FIGS. 11A and 11B, an example of a unitary garment 1100for wear during athletic activities such as sprinting is illustrated.Unitary garment 1100 may comprise a first arm 1120, a second arm 1122, afirst leg 1130, and a second leg 1132. Garment 1100 may further comprisea torso 1140. One or more textures may be applied to different regionsof garment 1100 as described herein. The roughness of the appliedtexture may be greater at the extremities of garment 1100, such as nearthe wrists of first arm 1120 and second arm 1122. The texture maysimilarly be rougher at the periphery of an athlete's body as presentedtowards airflow while sprinting, such as on the sides of torso 1140.Meanwhile, surface roughness may be less in regions that will generateless aerodynamic drag during sprinting, such as the central region oftorso 1140. Garment 1100 may be constructed of a highly elastic fabricto ensure a snug fit to the body of an athlete (not illustrated).Garment 1100 may additionally and/or alternatively be constructed offabric with desirable moisture management, cooling or other properties.To facilitate a close fit, first arm 1120 may terminate in a portionincluding a thumbhole 1124, and second arm 1122 may terminate in aportion including thumbhole 1126. Further, first leg 1130 and second leg1132 may terminate in foot portions, stirrups, or other devices (notshown) to secure the extremity of garment 1100 around the foot and/orankle of an athlete wearing the garment 1100. Optionally, a zipper 1190or any other closure mechanism may be used to facilitate the donning ofgarment 1100. Any closure mechanism used may have a texture associatedwith it to reduce aerodynamic dray produced by the closure mechanism.Additionally and/or alternatively, garment 1100 may be sufficientlystretchable to permit an athlete to don garment using neck hole 1150.While donning a garment using neck hole 1150 provides improvedaerodynamic properties, as it eliminates a zipper 1190 or other closuremechanism that may produce additional aerodynamic drag, donning agarment through neck hole 1150 may also be sufficiently difficult for anathlete that a zipper 1190 or any other closure mechanism may beprovided to close a garment after temporarily opening a portion of thegarment 1100 for donning. A zipper 1190 or other fastener may be locatedanywhere upon garment 1100, and may be located to minimize theaerodynamic drag created by the fastener in the particular athleticactivity for which the garment 1100 is intended to be worn for.

Referring now to FIG. 11B, a rearview of unitary garment 1100 isillustrated. As shown in FIG. 11B, a ventilation portion, in thisexample a back mesh portion 1160 in back of garment 1100 may provideventilation and cooling of an athlete (not illustrated) wearing garment1100. Back mesh portion 1160 may be constructed of any type of mesh andmay be of varying size relative to back of garment 1100. Other meshportions (not illustrated) may be used at locations other than the backof a garment in accordance with the present invention. Further, meshportion 1160 and/or other ventilation portions (such as the additionalexample described below) may be omitted entirely from a garment inaccordance with the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 12, another example of a ventilation portion, inthis example a cutout ventilation portion 1200, is illustrated. Asillustrated in FIG. 12, cutout ventilation portion 1200 comprises asingle piece of fabric 1210 with cutouts 1240 in the fabric 1210. Theedges of each cutout 1240 may be treated with silicone or other materialto prevent fraying, if desired. An edge treatment, if used, may beprinted, heat transferred, glued, or otherwise applied to one or moreedges of cutouts 1240. Cutouts 1240 may be located on fabric 1210 suchthat an entire thread of fabric 1210 may extend across the fabric 1210without being severed at a cutout 1240. For example, individual threadsmay extend along lines 1220 and along lines 1230 to provide structuralintegrity to fabric 1210. Cutout ventilation portion 1200 is merely oneexample of a ventilation portion that may be used in conjunction withgarments in accordance with the present invention. As discussedpreviously with regard to FIG. 11B, a mesh portion may also be used as aventilation portion. A ventilation portion in accordance with thepresent invention may also comprise, for example, multiple pieces offabric or strapping assembled to provide one or more openings forventilation. Further, garments in accordance with the present inventionmay entirely omit a ventilation portion. Further, ventilation portionsmay be located at varying locations of a garment in accordance with thepresent invention, in addition to the back portion of a garment.

A cutout ventilation portion, one example of which is illustrated anddescribed in conjunction with FIG. 12, also may be used in conjunctionwith garments other than the aerodynamic garments described herein. Forexample, other garments may benefit from a cutout ventilation portionthat exposes the skin of the wearer to ambient air while alsomaintaining the strength and elasticity of the fabric without theadditional weight and/or bulk of a ventilation portion constructed withmultiple pieces. A cutout ventilation portion may comprise a piece offabric having a plurality of threads and cutouts positioned such that atleast a subset of the plurality of threads are not cut. The cutouts maybe formed using die cutting, laser cutting, or other cutting techniques.The cutout edges may receive an edge treatment, such as describedherein, may be applied to the cutout edges to prevent fraying. Thecutout ventilation portion may be affixed to fabric covering asubstantial portion of the torso and/or extremities of the wearer toform a garment. The fabric may have sufficient elasticity to provide asnug fit for the wearer. In this fashion, a cutout ventilation portionmay provide cooling to the user while remaining light weight.

Referring now to FIG. 13A, a garment 1300 in accordance with the presentinvention is illustrated as worn by an athlete 1310. Garment 1300 maycomprise a front torso region 1360 with little or no applied texture.Front torso region 1360 may be, for example, a relatively smooth fabric.Garment 1300 may further comprise a left side texture region 1320. Leftside texture region may extend from at or near the ankle of athlete 1300up the leg of athlete and at least partially up the torso of athlete1310. Similarly, right leg texture region 1340 may extend from at ornear the right ankle of athlete 1310 and up at least a portion of theside of the torso of athlete 1310. Left arm portion 1330 may be texturedand may extend from at or near the left wrist of athlete 1310 past theelbow and even over the shoulder of athlete 1310. Similarly, right armtexture portion 1350 may extend from at or near the right elbow ofathlete 1310, over the elbow and even past the shoulder of athlete 1310.

Referring now to FIG. 13B, a rear view of garment 1300 worn by athlete1310 is illustrated. As further illustrated in FIG. 13B, a rear centralzone 1370 may cover portions of the back torso of athlete 1310 and mayfurther extend up the neck of athlete 1310, down back portions of thearms of athlete 1310, and may even extend down portions of the backs ofthe legs of athlete 1310. Zone 1370 may be constructed of a relativelysmooth fabric similar to or different from that of central torso zone1360. A ventilation portion, such as that illustrated in FIG. 12, may beincluded in the back of garment 1300 as illustrated in FIG. 13B.

Referring now to FIG. 13C, a view of the left arm of athlete 1310wearing garment 1300 is illustrated. As illustrated in FIG. 13C, leftarm texture zone 1370 may comprise varying applied textures that changefrom hand 1311 of athlete 1310 to shoulder 1314 of athlete 1310. Garment1300 may fit snuggly over wrist 1312, elbow 1313, and shoulder 1314 ofathlete 1310. A back panel 1315 that may comprise a portion of back zone1370 may optionally be constructed of a mesh material to provideventilation for athlete 1310.

Referring now to FIG. 13D, further aspects of an exemplary garment 1300are illustrated. FIG. 13D illustrates a portion of garment 1300 at andnear the right hand of athlete 1310. As shown in FIG. 13D, a pluralityof doughnut shaped nodules 1351 may be printed and optionally flocked ongarment as previously described herein. Garment 1300 may include athumbhole to permit garment 1300 to be secured over the hand 1380 andthumb 1381 of athlete 1310. Further, the hem 1390 of garment 1300 may becut and printed with silicone similar to that used in printing nodules1351. Hem 1390 may then be flocked to improve aerodynamic performance,as previously described herein. FIG. 13D further illustrates alignmentdot 1357 on hem 1390 that may optionally be included to permit athleteto easily align garment on the body with thumb 1381. Further alignmentdots 1355 may be included in the printed texture of garment 1300 toprovide a visual indication of alignment of the garment 1300 on athlete1310. Similar alignment markers may be provided on both arms of agarment 1300 and the legs of garment 1300 to assist an athlete inproperly aligning the garment 1300 for optimal aerodynamic performanceand comfort.

Referring now to FIG. 14A, various textures and fabrics that may be usedand even joined by seams in a garment in accordance with the presentinvention are illustrated. Zone 1410 comprises a plurality of doughnutshaped nodules, that may be formed as described herein. Zone 1420comprises a printed cross-hatched grid that may be unflocked, asdescribed herein. Zone 1430 may be a first substantially smooth fabricused, for example, in a rear-facing portion of a garment. Zone 1440 maybe a further smooth fabric portion, that may utilize the same or adifferent fabric than zone 1430. Zone 1440 may, for example, comprise acentral torso portion in a garment such as 1300 illustrated in FIGS.13A-13D.

Referring now to FIG. 14B and FIG. 14C, additional textures that may beprinted on a fabric in accordance with the present invention areillustrated. FIG. 14B illustrates a zone 1450 having a plurality ofdoughnut nodules. FIG. 14C illustrates three additional densities andsizes of nodules that may be printed to provide a texture on a garmentin accordance with the present invention. Zone 1460 illustrates adensely printed plurality of relatively large dots. Zone 1470illustrates a relatively sparse texture with medium-sized dots. Zone1480, meanwhile, illustrates a moderately sparse pattern of relativelysmall dots. As shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C, any number of patterns may beprinted to provide a texture in accordance with the present invention.Further, shapes other than the symmetric circles and dots illustrated inFIGS. 14B and 14C may be used in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 15, a method 1500 for forming a garment inaccordance with the present invention is illustrated. In step 1510, theboundaries of a zone of a garment are determined based on an airprofile. The air profile used in step 1510 may be the air profileexperienced by a portion of the garment when worn by an athlete duringan athletic activity. The air profile may depend upon the body positionof the athlete and/or movement of the athlete relative to ambient air.The air profile experienced may vary based upon the athletic activity,or even the athlete, intended to wear the garment. In step 1520, adetermination of a maybe made texture having a property that gives riseto an aerodynamic characteristic decreasing drag in the determined zone.Step 1520 may use the air profile considered in step 1510. The texturedetermined in step 1520 may be any of those described herein, such as ageometric shape, a flocked nodule, an unflocked nodule, or any othertexture that may be applied to a garment. Step 1510 and/or step 1520 mayutilize wind tunnels and/or other types of aerodynamic analysis. In step1530, the determined texture from step 1520 may be applied to thedetermined zone from step 1520. Step 1530 may be performed usingprinting techniques, for example, to apply a texture to the surface of agarment or a fabric for incorporation into a garment. In step 1540, adetermination may be made as to whether an additional zone on thegarment is desired. If an additional zone is required or desired, method1500 may return to step 1510 for the determination of another zone andstep 1520 for the determination of another texture. It should beappreciated that step 1540 may occur prior to step 1530, such thatmultiple zones having multiple textures may be applied substantiallysimultaneously. If the conclusion of step 1540 is that no additionalzones are needed or desired, method 1500 may proceed to step 1550, atwhich point the garment may be worn by an athlete during an athleticactivity. One or more of steps 1510, 1520, 1530, and 1540 may beperformed prior to fabrication of the garment worn in step 1550, step1530 may, for example, be performed using a fabric portions that willsubsequently formed into a garment.

The treatment of edges in accordance with the present invention asinitially illustrated previously in FIG. 13D and described herein isdescribed further with regard to FIGS. 16-26. Edge treatments inaccordance with the present invention may, for example, compriseelastomers applied through any process, such as printing, heat transfer,molding, etc. Materials such as silicone or other printable materialsmay be applied via a variety of printing or printing-like processes.Edges treated in accordance with the present invention may compriseterminal edges of a garment or other edges, such as the edges of a holeor opening in a garment formed in the interior of a garment forventilation or cooling. Terminal edges treated in accordance with thepresent invention may comprise any edge whereby the garment terminates.For example, shirts in accordance with the present invention may haveterminal edges at the waist, neck, and the ends of sleeves. Pants and/orshorts in accordance with the present invention may have terminal edgesat the waist and the ends of legs. A unitary body suit in accordancewith the present invention may have terminal edges at the neck, the endsof sleeves, and the ends of legs. Not all terminal edges of a garment inaccordance with the present invention need be treated. The location of aterminal edge relative to the body of a wearer may also vary greatly inaccordance with the present invention. For example, shirts may be longsleeved, three quarter sleeved, short sleeved, or sleeveless, whichwould place terminal edges at the wrist, forearm, upper arm, orshoulder, respectively. Similarly, pants and/or shorts in accordancewith the present invention may place terminal edges anywhere from thefoot to the hip. A waist terminal edge, whether of a shirt orpants/shorts, may be high, low, or at any other location. The terminaledges of a unitary body suit may also vary along the arms, leg and neckof a wearer. Garments in accordance with the present invention may beworn individually or in conjunction with other garments in accordancewith the present invention.

For purposes of aerodynamics, a snug fit may be particularlyadvantageous, to reduce drag from a terminal edge. Silicone or othertreatments may be applied to the external surface of a garment. Flockingtechniques on the edge may further improve the aerodynamic properties ofexternally applied terminal edge treatments in accordance with thepresent invention.

Referring to FIGS. 16-18, the use of a variety of silicone widths tocreate different desired amounts of elasticity in the resulting fit ofthe terminal edge are illustrated. In FIG. 16, cut edge 1612 has printedthereon silicone 1631 to prevent fraying of cut edge 1612 and to provideelasticity in the fit of the garment. In the example illustrated in FIG.16 and elsewhere herein, the garment may be a shirt and the cut edge,such as edge 1612, may comprise the wrist opening of the garment, butany cut edge of a garment may be treated in accordance with the presentinvention. In the example illustrated in FIG. 16, sleeve 1610 terminatesin cut edge 1612 with silicone edge treatment 1631 having a width 1641.

Referring now to FIG. 17, a second example of a treated edge 1712 inaccordance with the present invention is illustrated. Sleeve 1710 mayterminate with cut edge 1712 treated with printed silicone 1732 having awidth 1742. Width 1742 may be, for example, less than width 1641illustrated in FIG. 16. Accordingly, sleeve 1710 may terminate with anless elastic edge than does sleeve 1610.

Referring now to FIG. 18, a third example of a sleeve 1810 with a cutedge 1812 treated with printed silicone 1833 is illustrated. In theexample shown in FIG. 18, printed silicone 1833 has a width 1843 thatexceeds that of width 1641 and of width 1742, thereby providing sleeve1810 with an even greater amount of elasticity for a close fit to thewearer.

The width of silicone printed on the terminating edge of a garment isnot the only parameter that may be varied to create the desired amountof elasticity and resulting snugness of fit. Further examples of varyingthe elasticity and snugness of fit using the thickness of the siliconeprinted are illustrated in FIGS. 19-21.

Referring to FIG. 19, a garment may have a sleeve panel 1910 thatterminates in cut edge 1912 that has been treated with printed silicone1931 having a thickness 1951. In the example further illustrated in FIG.20, a garment may comprise a sleeve panel 2010 terminating in a cut edge2012 treated with printed silicone 2032 having a given thickness 2052that exceeds the thickness 1951 in the example illustrated in FIG. 19.Therefore, the example sleeve illustrated in FIG. 20 would have greaterelasticity and a snugger fit at the wrist than the example sleeveillustrated in FIG. 19.

A further example of varying the thickness of printed silicone isillustrated in FIG. 21. In FIG. 21, a garment may comprise a sleevepanel 2110 terminating in cut edge 2112. Cut edge 2112 may be treatedwith printed silicone 2133 having a thickness 2153, which in the presentexample illustrated in FIG. 21 is less than thickness 1951 and 2052 inthe examples illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 29, respectively. Accordingly,the example illustrated in FIG. 21 would have less snugness of fit thanthe example illustrated in FIG. 19 and the example illustrated in FIG.20.

The width of printed silicone and the thickness of the silicone may bevaried along the cut edge of a garment to better conform to the shape ofthe wearer's body and/or to provide a varying level of snugness alongthe edge to provide improved flexibility in regions requiring it whilemaintaining a sufficiently secure contact in all areas to provideoptimal aerodynamic properties. Variations in the width of siliconeapplied to a cut edge may permit the silicone to treat multiple edgesconveniently, such as the edges for both a wrist hole and a thumb holeas shown in FIG. 13D. One example of how the width of applied siliconemay be varied along a treated edge of a garment is illustrated in FIG.22. A garment may comprise a sleeve 2210 terminating in cut edge 2212treated with printed silicone 2230. Printed silicone may have a widththat varies spatially along cut edge 2212 from a minimum atapproximately 2232 to a maximum at approximately 2234. For example, theleading edge of a runner's wrist may correspond to first location 2234,whereas the trailing edge of a runner's wrist may correspond to secondlocation 2232. Of course, any number of other variations may be desiredfor different athletes, different sports, or different parts of the bodysuch as necks, ankles, waists, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 23, a substantially stepwise variance of width ofprinted silicone along a cut edge of a garment is illustrated. In theexample shown in FIG. 23, a sleeve 2310 may terminate in a cut edge 2312corresponding to the wrist of a wearer. Printed silicone 2330 may beapplied to treat cut edge 2312 and to provide elasticity and snugness offit. The width of applied silicone 2330 may vary in a substantiallystep-like fashion along cut edge 2312 to provide varying amounts ofelasticity and snugness of fit for different portions of a wearer's bodyalong cut edge 2312. For example, a first portion 2331 may possess afirst width, while a second portion 2332 may possess a second width, anda third portion 2333 may possess a third width, and a fourth portion2334 may possess a fourth width. Any number of “steps” may be madearound a cut edge in accordance with the present example. Further, agradual change of width such as that illustrated in FIG. 22 may be usedin combination with a step-like change of width such as the exampleillustrated in FIG. 23, within a single garment or along the same edge.

Yet a further example of variations in the width of applied silicone tovary the amount of elasticity and snugness provided along a cut edge ofa garment is illustrated in FIG. 24. A garment may comprise a sleeve2410 terminating in cut edge 2412 at the wrist of a wearer. Cut edge2412 may be treated with printed silicone 2430 having a first width 2432along much of cut edge 2412, but silicone width may gradually changefrom first width 2412 to maximum width 2434 along a portion of cut edge2412. Curved portion of increased width to a maximum width 2434 maycorrespond to a particular part of the wearer's anatomy requiringgreater structural support or greater snugness.

FIG. 25 illustrates one example of how the thickness of applied siliconemay vary around a cut edge of a garment. In FIG. 25, a garment maycomprise a sleeve 2510 that terminates at the wrist of a wearer with cutedge 2512 treated with printed silicone 2530. Printed silicone 2530 mayvary in thickness around the extent of cut edge 2512 and,correspondingly, the wrist of the wearer. For example, printed silicone2530 may be relatively narrow at point 2536 and relatively thick atpoint 2534 while possessing an intermediate thickness at otherlocations, such as point 2532.

While FIG. 25 demonstrates a substantially circular cross-section ofsleeve 2510, in actuality the typical wrist of a human being is notperfectly circular. A noncircular example of an edge treatment inaccordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 26. Agarment may comprise a sleeve 2610 terminating at the wrist of a wearerwith a cut edge 2612. In the example illustrated in FIG. 26, the edgesof the wrist portion of sleeve 2610 corresponding to point 2633 andpoint 2637 may have the thickest layer of silicone 2630 applied thereto.The thickness of silicone 2630 may taper to be thinner at points 2632and 2636. Further, silicone 2630 need not extend over the entirety ofcut edge 2612, but may be omitted entirely at some locations, ifdesired.

Both the thickness and width of printed silicone may be variedsimultaneously along a cut edge of a garment. Further, not all portionsof a cut edge need be treated with printed silicone at all. Also, othertypes of edge treatments, such as stitched hemming, may be combined withsilicone printed edge treatments in accordance with the presentinvention, either along the entire terminal edge of a garment or along aportion of the terminal edge of a garment. Any terminal edge of agarment may be treated in accordance with the present invention toprovide desired snugness of fit and aerodynamic properties along thatedge. For example, edges corresponding to thumb holes, such as shown inFIG. 13D, ventilation holes such as shown in FIG. 13B, neck holes, waistholes, and/or ankle holes may be treated in accordance with the presentinvention. Materials other than silicone may also be used in accordancewith the present invention. Other materials, such as other elastomers,may provide differing elasticities, durability, or other properties thatmay be preferred over silicone for some implementations. However,silicone is primarily described in the examples herein because of itsready availability and nonreactive properties with the skins of mostindividuals. Silicone and/or other materials may be applied to a cutedge or other type of edge at any point during the construction of agarment. For example, a cut edge may be printed as the final step ofconstruction (i.e., after the garment has been assembled), after thefabric panels have been cut but before they have been assembled, orbefore the fabric has been cut (i.e., silicone or another material maybe applied to the fabric, and then both the fabric and the appliedsilicone/other material may be cut and assembled), or some combinationof these (i.e., applied in varying amounts and/or locations at differentsteps in the overall garment assembly process). While silicone has beengenerally described as applied to the outside of a garment when thegarment is worn, silicone or other elastomers may be applied to theinterior of a garment in accordance with the present invention.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention. Individual elements or features ofa particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.For example, the surface roughness 12 is described as patterns ofprotrusions extending from the surface of the fabric. However, heatsearing or other methods may be used to form patterns of recesses and/orcombinations of recesses and protrusions within the fabric withoutcompromising the scope of the invention. The same may also be varied inmany ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure fromthe invention, and all such modifications are intended to be includedwithin the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An aerodynamic athletic garment comprising: atleast one fabric panel that covers a portion of an athlete's body whenthe garment is worn; at least one cut edge that terminates the at leastone fabric panel of the garment without stitching; and a printedelastomer along the exterior of the at least one cut edge, the printedelastomer having an elasticity that secures the at least one cut edge tothe athlete's body when the garment is worn.
 2. The aerodynamic athleticgarment of claim 1, wherein the printed elastomer comprises silicone. 3.The aerodynamic garment of claim 1, further comprising: a first zonehaving a first applied texture having a property that gives rise to afirst aerodynamic characteristic, the first zone covering a portion ofan extremity of the wearer; and a second zone having a second propertythat gives rise to a second aerodynamic characteristic, the second zonesubstantially covering the torso of the wearer.
 4. The aerodynamicgarment of claim 3, wherein the first applied texture comprises a firstplurality of printed elastomeric nodules and the second applied texturecomprises a second plurality of printed elastomeric nodules.
 5. Theaerodynamic garment of claim 4, wherein the at least one cut edge formsa wrist opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.
 6. Theaerodynamic garment of claim 4, wherein the at least one cut edge formsan arm opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.
 7. Theaerodynamic garment of claim 4, wherein the at least one cut edge formsa shoulder opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.
 8. Theaerodynamic garment of claim 4, wherein the at least one cut edge formsan ankle opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.
 9. Theaerodynamic garment of claim 4, wherein the at least one cut edge formsa leg opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.
 10. Theaerodynamic garment of claim 4, wherein the at least one cut edge formsa neck opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.
 11. Theaerodynamic garment of claim 4, wherein the at least one cut edge formsa waist opening for the garment when worn by an athlete.
 12. Anaerodynamic athletic garment comprising: a plurality of fabric panelsjoined together to form the garment, such that the garment covers atleast a portion of an athlete's body when the garment is worn; a cutedge that terminates the garment on an extremity of the athlete when thegarment is worn, the cut edge lacking stitching; and an elastomeric edgetreatment printed on the exterior side of the cut edge, the elastomericedge treatment varying in width along the cut edge.
 13. The aerodynamicgarment of claim 12, wherein the elastomeric edge treatment was printedon the cut edge after making the cut through the fabric to form the cutedge.
 14. The aerodynamic garment of claim 12, wherein the elastomericedge treatment was printed on a fabric panel before making a cut throughthe fabric to form the cut edge.
 15. The aerodynamic garment of claim12, wherein the cut edge comprises a wrist opening.
 16. The aerodynamicgarment of claim 14, further comprising: a second cut edge thatcomprises second wrist opening; and a second elastomeric edge treatmentprinted on the exterior side of the second cut edge, the secondelastomeric edge treatment varying in width along the second cut edge.17. The aerodynamic garment of claim 16, further comprising: a firstthumb hole that receives an athlete's left thumb when the garment isworn, the first thumb hole being cut through a fabric panel and lackingstitching; a second thumb hole that receives an athlete's right thumbwhen the garment is worn, the second thumb hole being cut through afabric panel and lacking stitching; and wherein: the elastomeric edgetreatment extends to cover the first thumb hole and the secondelastomeric edge treatment extends to cover the second thumb hole. 18.An aerodynamic athletic garment comprising: a plurality of fabric panelsjoined together to form the garment, such that the garment covers atleast a portion of an athlete's body when the garment is worn; a cutedge that terminates the garment on an extremity of the athlete when thegarment is worn, the cut edge lacking stitching; and an elastomeric edgetreatment printed on the outside face of the cut edge, the elastomericedge treatment varying in thickness along the cut edge.
 19. Theaerodynamic garment of claim 18, wherein the cut edge comprises a wristopening.
 20. The aerodynamic garment of claim 18, wherein theelastomeric edge treatment further varies in width along the cut edge.21. The aerodynamic garment of claim 19, further comprising: a secondcut edge that comprises second wrist opening; and a second elastomericedge treatment printed on the outside face of the second cut edge, thesecond elastomeric edge treatment varying in width along the second cutedge.
 22. The aerodynamic garment of claim 21, further comprising: afirst thumb hole that receives an athlete's left thumb when the garmentis worn, the first thumb hole being cut through a fabric panel andlacking stitching; a second thumb hole that receives an athlete's rightthumb when the garment is worn, the second thumb hole being cut througha fabric panel and lacking stitching; and wherein: the elastomeric edgetreatment extends to cover the first thumb hole and the secondelastomeric edge treatment extends to cover the second thumb hole.